U.S. patent application number 11/995024 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for device for assisting ground navigation of an aircraft on an airport.
This patent application is currently assigned to Airbus France. Invention is credited to Pierre Coldefy, Stephane Collins, Fabien Fetzmann, Thierry Malaval.
Application Number | 20100121568 11/995024 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36090910 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100121568 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fetzmann; Fabien ; et
al. |
May 13, 2010 |
DEVICE FOR ASSISTING GROUND NAVIGATION OF AN AIRCRAFT ON AN
AIRPORT
Abstract
The invention concerns a device (1) comprising means (2) for
determining the current position of the aircraft, a mapping
database (3), a navigation system (4), means (9) for determining
the current heading of the aircraft, and a display system (6) for
displaying on a viewing screen (8), a map at least partial of the
airport and, thereon, an aircraft symbol which is positioned at
said current position and which is oriented in accordance with the
current heading.
Inventors: |
Fetzmann; Fabien; (Cugnaux,
FR) ; Coldefy; Pierre; (Toulouse, FR) ;
Malaval; Thierry; (Toulouse, FR) ; Collins;
Stephane; (Toulouse, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dickinson Wright PLLC;James E. Ledbetter, Esq.
International Square, 1875 Eye Street, NW., Suite 1200
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
Airbus France
Toulouse
FR
|
Family ID: |
36090910 |
Appl. No.: |
11/995024 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
July 13, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR06/01712 |
371 Date: |
January 8, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/412 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01C 23/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/208 |
International
Class: |
G01C 21/00 20060101
G01C021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 22, 2005 |
FR |
0507801 |
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. A device for assisting ground navigation of an aircraft on an
airport, said device (1) comprising: first means (2) for
determining the current position of said aircraft located on the
ground, said first means (2) comprising positioning equipment (11)
associated with a satellite positioning system; second means (9)
for determining the current heading of the aircraft; a database (3)
comprising cartographic data relating to the airport; a navigation
system (4) which receives said current position, said heading and
said cartographic data, and which brings these data into
conformity; and a display system (6) which receives information
from said navigation system (4) and which presents on at least one
display screen (8) a map, at least partial, of the airport and,
upon the latter, an aircraft symbol which is positioned at said
current position and oriented according to said current heading,
wherein said first means (2) comprise: said positioning equipment
(11), which comprises at least one antenna (12) which is mounted on
the aircraft, as well as a first receiver (13) which is linked with
said antenna (12); a second receiver (14) which is also linked with
said antenna (12) and which is able to determine the current
position of the aircraft from signals received and by the
intermediary of said antenna (12); an antenna coupler (15): which
is provided with an input connected to said antenna (12) and with
two outputs connected to said first and second receivers (13, 14)
respectively; and which is produced in such a way as to double the
signal received from the antenna (12) and to transmit one of the
signals obtained by this doubling to said first receiver (13) and
the other signal to said second receiver (14).
8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second receiver
(14) is integrated in said navigation system (4).
9. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second receiver
(14) has metric precision and a refresh rate which is greater than
or equal to 20 Hz.
10. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second receiver
(14) can be parameterized.
11. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second means (9)
comprise an inertial system of the aircraft.
12. An aircraft, wherein it comprises a device (1) as claimed in
claim 7.
Description
[0001] The current invention relates to a device for assisting
ground navigation of an aircraft on an airport.
[0002] In the context of an airport navigation function (which
makes it possible to display on a screen in the cockpit of an
aircraft a map of the airport upon which is indicated, in
particular, the current position of the aircraft), it is necessary
to know the exact position of the aircraft when it is on the
ground. The precision and the refresh rate of this position are
determinant parameters for ensuring safety and the credibility of
the displayed information, with respect to external references that
can be seen by the pilot.
[0003] In order to determine its position in flight, the aircraft
generally comprises positioning equipment which is associated with
a satellite positioning system of the GPS or GALILEO or similar
type, Such positioning equipment generally comprises an antenna
which is mounted on the top of the aircraft, as well as a receiver
which is linked with said antenna and which receives and processes
the signals detected by the latter.
[0004] In the case of a GPS system, for example, the on-board
positioning equipment which is intended for in-flight navigation
generally delivers a position every second, which is not sufficient
for creating an impression of movement of the aircraft on the
display. Moreover, the current in-flight performance standards,
with which this positioning equipment complies, do not cover the
increased precision requirement on the ground (generally less than
10 meters), nor the phenomena associated with the environment
encountered on the ground (presence of buildings and multiple
reflections in particular).
[0005] This positioning equipment which is provided on the aircraft
and which is perfectly suited to in-flight navigation is not
therefore satisfactory for use in the context of airport navigation
of the aforesaid type.
[0006] Another big disadvantage of a usual airport navigation
function relates in particular to the display which is presented to
the pilot. This display generally concerns an aircraft symbol which
is presented at an estimated or measured position of the aircraft
on an airport map, without however indication the orientation of
said aircraft.
[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome these
disadvantages. It relates to a device for assisting ground
navigation of an aircraft on an airport which is particularly
effective and accurate.
[0008] For this purpose, according to the invention, said device
comprising: [0009] first means for determining the current position
of said aircraft located on the ground; [0010] a database
comprising cartographic data relating to the airport; [0011] a
navigation system which receives at least said current position and
said cartographic data, and which brings these data into
conformity; and [0012] a display system which receives information
from said navigation system and which presents on at least one
display screen a map, at least partial, of the airport and, upon
the latter, an aircraft symbol which is positioned at said current
position, is noteworthy in that it furthermore comprises second
means for determining the current heading of the aircraft and in
that said navigate system receives said current heading and
transmits it to said display system, and in that said display
system is produced in such a way as to orientate said aircraft
symbol on said partial map according to said current heading.
[0013] Thus, due to the invention, the pilot is presented with not
only the current position of the aircraft on the displayed airport
map but also its orientation. This allows the pilot to be given a
very faithful representation of the real situation of the aircraft
on the airport.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, said first means comprise: [0015]
usual pre-existing positioning equipment, which is associated with
a satellite positioning system, for example of the GPS type, and
which comprises at least one antenna mounted on the aircraft, as
well as a first receiver which is linked with said antenna; [0016]
a second receiver (additional and not initially provided) which is
also linked with said antenna and which is able to determine the
current position of the aircraft from signals received by the
intermediary of said antenna; and [0017] an antenna coupler (not
initially provided, which is added): [0018] which is provided with
an input connected to said antenna and with two outputs connected
to said first and second receivers respectively; and [0019] which
is produced in such a way as to double the signal received from the
antenna and to transmit one of the signals obtained by this
doubling to said first receiver and the other signal to said second
receiver.
[0020] Thus, due to the invention, said (second) receiver which is
intended for determining the current position of the aircraft, uses
the positioning equipment existing on the aircraft, which is
already provided with an antenna, which avoids having to add a new
antenna on said aircraft, such an addition being generally
difficult to achieve and, above all, very costly.
[0021] Moreover, due to the use of said antenna coupler, it is
possible to provide a second receiver which is of much better
performance than is said first receiver which is, in the usual
manner, provided on the aircraft for in-flight navigation (such
in-flight navigation not necessitating a particularly high
precision and refresh rate). It is possible to obtain, due to these
features, a current position of the aircraft which is particularly
well-suited for a display relating to airport navigation.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, said second receiver: [0023] is
integrated in said navigation system; and/or [0024] has metric
precision and a refresh rate which is greater than or equal to 20
Hz. It will be noted that the performance of such a receiver makes
it possible to dispense with the use of an inertial source, in
order to improve the refresh rate of the calculated position;
and/or [0025] can be parameterized. Thus, it is possible to
configure said (second) receiver, preferably of known GPS COTS
("Commercial Off The Shelf") type, in order to take advantage of
the available improvements of the satellite positioning system.
[0026] Moreover, in a particular embodiment, said second means
comprise an inertial system of the aircraft.
[0027] The single FIGURE of the appended drawing will give a good
understanding of how the invention may be embodied. This single
figure is the block diagram of a device for assisting ground
navigation according to the invention.
[0028] The device 1 according to the invention and shown
diagrammatically in the figure is intended to assist a pilot during
the ground navigation of an aircraft, for example a transport
aircraft on an airport.
[0029] In order to do this, this device 1 is of the type
comprising: [0030] means 2, described below, for determining the
current position of said aircraft (not shown) which is therefore
located on the ground on the airport; [0031] a database 3 of the
usual type, which comprises cartographic data relating at least to
said airport; [0032] a navigation system 4 which is connected by
the intermediary of link 5 to said database 3, which receives at
least said current position from said means 2 and said cartographic
data from said database 3, and which brings these data into
conformity, that is to say which makes them able to be displayed
simultaneously on a same device; and [0033] a display system 6
which is connected by a link 7 to said navigation system 4, which
receives information (in particular the results of the aforesaid
bringing into conformity) from said navigation system 4, and which
presents, on at least one usual display screen installed in the
cockpit of the aircraft, an airport map which shows, at least
partially, said airport and, on this airport map, an aircraft
symbol which is positioned at said current position with respect to
real features of the airport displayed on said airport map.
[0034] According to the invention, said device 1 furthermore
comprises means 9 for determining, in the usual manner, the current
heading of the aircraft. These means 9, which preferably comprise
an inertial system of the aircraft and in particular a unit or
system of the ADIRU ("Air Data Inertial Reference Unit") type,
transmit said current heading by the intermediary of a link 10 to
said navigation system 4 which provides this information to said
display system 6 which uses it at the display. More precisely, said
display system 6 is produced in such a way as to orient said
aircraft symbol on said airport map (not shown in the figure),
according to the said received current heading.
[0035] Thus, the display system 6 presents the pilot not only with
the current position of the aircraft on the displayed airport map,
but also its orientation. This makes it possible for the pilot to
have a very faithful representation of the real situation of the
aircraft on the airport.
[0036] Moreover, in order to determine the current position of the
aircraft, the device 1 according to the invention uses usual
positioning equipment 11 which already exists on the aircraft and
which is usually intended for in-flight navigation in particular.
Such a usual positioning system 11 comprises at least one antenna
12 which is generally mounted on the top of the aircraft, and a
receiver 13 which is connected to this antenna 12. This positioning
equipment 11 cooperates with a usual satellite positioning system,
for example of the GPS ("Global Positioning System") type or
similar. In general, said positioning equipment 11 is of the known
GPSSU ("Global Positioning System Sensor Unit") type. In
particular, it provides GPS data on 3D position, speed, direction,
time as well as information on the precision and the integrity of
this data. Such positioning equipment 11 is optimized for in-flight
navigation (and not for ground navigation). For this purpose, the
antenna 12 is mounted on the top in such a way as to see the
satellites low on the horizon in order to retain good visibility
whilst turning. However, once on the ground, such an antenna 12 is
particularly sensitive to a usual phenomenon known as "multipath",
which can be encountered close to buildings.
[0037] Consequently, such positioning equipment 11 is not designed
to be used, as it is, in the context of airport navigation.
[0038] However, in order to avoid having to install an additional
positioning system on the aircraft, which would be expensive and
difficult to implement, particularly with regard to the antenna,
said means 2 comprise, according to the invention, said preexisting
positioning equipment 11. Moreover, according to the invention,
said means 2 also comprise: [0039] an additional receiver 14 which
is linked to said antenna 12 of said equipment 11, as described
below, and which is intended for determining the current position
of the aircraft (which is provided to the navigation system 4),
from signals received by the intermediary of said antenna 12; and
[0040] an antenna coupler 15: [0041] which is provided with an
input which is connected by the intermediary of a link 16 to said
antenna 12 and with two outputs connected which are connected by
the intermediary of links 17 and 18 to said receivers 13 and 14
respectively; and [0042] which is produced in such a way as to
double the signal received from the antenna 12 and to transmit one
of the signals obtained by this doubling to said receiver 13 which
can thus continue to function normally, in particular for in-flight
navigation, and the other signal to said receiver 14 which is used
for the implementation of the present invention.
[0043] Said antenna coupler 15 is chosen in such a way as to
guarantee that the isolation between the outputs does not allow
possible interference from one output to propagate across. It is
also such that a possible attenuation of the power of the signal is
acceptable for both receivers 13 and 14. The input and the outputs
of the coupler 15 are connected by matched connectors to said links
16, 17 and 18.
[0044] Thus, due to the use of said antenna coupler 15, it is
possible to provide an additional receiver 14 which has much better
performance than said receiver 13 which is provided, in the usual
manner, on the aircraft for in-flight navigation (and which because
of this does not necessitate particularly high precision and
refresh rate). There is thus obtained, by means of the invention, a
current position of the aircraft which is particularly well suited
for a display relating to airport navigation.
[0045] In a preferred embodiment, said receiver 14 is integrated in
the navigation system 4 and corresponds to a new generation
airworthy GPS receiver, a COTS ("Commercial Off The Shelf")
product, which achieves performance better than an aeronautical GPS
receiver. Moreover, such a COTS GPS receiver comprises usual
specific algorithms which make it possible to increase the data
refresh rate, to reduce the multipath phenomenon and to reduce the
acquisition and reacquisition times.
[0046] In particular, such a COTS GPS receiver (receiver 14) can
have metric precision (95%) and a refresh rate which is greater
than or equal to 20 Hz, whereas a usual aeronautical GPSSU receiver
(receiver 13) generally has a precision (95%) of the order of 15 to
30 meters and a refresh rate of from 1 to 5 Hz. It will be noted
that the performance of such a receiver 14 also makes it possible
to dispense with the use of an inertial source in order to improve
the refresh rate of the calculated current position.
[0047] Moreover, in a particular embodiment, said receiver 14 can
be parameterized. Thus, it is possible to configure said receiver
14 in order to take advantage of the available improvements of the
satellite positioning system: GBAS, SEAS, GALILEO, etc.
[0048] In the case of the present invention, said device 1
therefore uses only the antenna 12 of the positioning system 11,
but not the receiver 13. Furthermore, as mentioned above, this
equipment 11 which moreover continues to be used for carrying out
its usual functions, in particular with regard to in-flight
navigation, has been modified by integrating the coupler 15 between
the antenna 12 and the receiver 13.
* * * * *